Protimeter TimberMaster BLD5609, TimberMaster BLD5605, TimberMaster BLD5605-SW, TimberMaster BLD5609-SW Instruction Manual

PROTIMETER

TimberMaster

Amphenol

Advanced Sensors

Protimeter Moisture Meter

(BLD5605, BLD5609, BLD5605-SW, BLD5609-SW)

Instruction Manual

INS5605-EN Rev. B

October 2017

1 Safety Considerations

Caution note for the WME pins - The Pin Moisture

measurement pins are extremely sharp and the in­strument should be handled with due care. The pins should
be covered with the cap provided with the unit when the
function is not in use.

Calibration of unit - The accuracy specications of the

product are valid for one year from the date of calibra­tion. Periodic calibration checking, as outlined in section 4,
is advised.

Only operate the measuring instrument properly, for its

intended purpose and within the parameters specied

in the technical data. Readings from moisture meters are not

denitive but are used to help a professional make informed

judgement to the material’s moisture condition. Conduc­tive material such as salts, carbon and metal can give false
positive readings.

2 Pin (WME) Mode Operation

The Protimeter TimberMaster is a conductivity moisture
meter designed for use in wood. Moisture measurements
can be taken using the integral pin electrodes. When
used with the temperature probe, the moisture measure­ments are automatically corrected with respect to
temperature. This feature is particularly relevant for users

testing wood that is signicantly above or below 20°C
(68°F).

TimberMaster is switched on by pressing and holding it
for a few seconds.

To switch OFF, press and hold for 3 seconds.

Unit turns off automatically after few minutes (can be set)

when no key press is detected.

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Protimeter TimberMaster

3 Using the Protimeter TimberMaster without the

Temperature probe

The TimberMaster is calibrated for wood at 20°C (68°F) .

In general, the effect of temperature on the moisture mea­surement calibration can be approximately compensated
as follows:

for every 5°C above 20°C, subtract 0.5%mc from
the value displayed. For every 5°C below 20°C, add

0.5%mc from the value displayed.

Examples:

Wood temp: 20°C, Moisture value: 15.5%. Temp correction: 0 moisture content: 15.5%

Wood temp: 25°C, Moisture value: 15.5%. Temp correction: -0.5 moisture content: 15%

Wood temp: 20°C, Moisture value: 15.5%. Temp correction: -1 moisture content: 14%

Wood temp: 20°C, Moisture value: 15.5%. Temp correction: +0.5 moisture content: 16%

Wood temp: 20°C, Moisture value: 15.5%. Temp correction: +1 moisture content: 16.5%

3.1 Reading with Integral Electrode pins

Remove the cap to expose the needle electrodes and
switch the instrument ON by pressing . Select the

appropriate wood calibration scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H or J) by referring to the enclosed Protimeter wood

calibration tables and pressing . Push the pins in
to the surface of the wood and observe the reading.

3.2 Reading with Moisture probe or Hammer
electrode

Connect the moisture probe or (optional) Hammer

electrode to the 3.5mm socket at the right hand side of
the TimberMaster and Switch ON by pressing . Select

the appropriate wood calibration scale (A, B, C, D, E, F,
G, H or J) by referring to the enclosed Protimeter wood

calibration tables and pressing . Drive the moisture
probe pins or hammer electrode needles in to the wood
and observe the reading.

4 Using the Protimeter TimberMaster with the

Temperature probe

If the Timber being measured is signicantly above
or below 20°C (68°F) the the TimberMaster should be

used in conjunction with the Temperature Probe. When
this probe is connected the TimberMaster automatically
corrects the measured moisture value with respect to
temperature.

Protimeter TimberMaster

Page 3

4.1 Automatically temperature corrected (ATC)
Readings

Switch the TimberMaster ON and select the appropriate
wood calibration scale as detailed in section 3.1 or 3.2.
Using either a Hammer electrode, or a hammer and nail
of nominal 2mm diameter, make a hole in the wood to
be tested. Remove the Hammer electrode or nail and
push the Temperature probe in to the hole until the tip is
at the required depth. Connect the Temperature Probe
to the TimberMaster via the 2.5mm socket. To obtain the

automatically temperature corrected (ATC) moisture value,

take moisture readings as detailed in sections 3.1 or 3.2.
While the temperature probe is positioned in the wood
and connected to the TimberMaster. If the temperature
of the wood is assumed to be equal to the ambient air
temperature , ATC moisture values can be obtained by
holding the connected Temperature Probe in air. Switch
between temperature and moisture displays by pressing

.

5 Calibration Check

The calibration of the TimberMaster is checked by hold­ing the electrode needles across the exposed wires of

the “calcheck” device (supplied) or across the terminals
of the protimeter check box (optional accessory). When

checking the calibration, the A scale should be selected
and the temperature probe must be disconnected. Cor-

rectly calibrated TimberMaster will register a (%MC) value
in the range of 18.0 ± 1%

6 Care and maintenance

When the TimberMaster is not in use, keep it in its pouch
together with its accessories. Store the kit in a stable,
dust-free environment out of direct sunlight. Remove the
battery from the instrument if it is to be stored for periods
of more than four weeks, or when the low battery power
symbol appears on the display. Check the condition of
accessories used with the TimberMaster instrument on
a regular basis and replace them if they become worn or
damaged.

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Protimeter TimberMaster

7 Reference Mode

Measure the material until the meter’s reading is stable
then press for 2 seconds. This will store the reading
until the mode changes or the meter turns off. Now all
reading taken after will be displayed as normal, but below
you will see a second reading that shows you if the material
is measured above or below the original reading. Reference
mode can be useful when trying to establish what materials
are above or below a point of reference or dry standard.
See page 6 for further information.

8 Operating TimberMaster

8.1 Switch On:

Press the ON/OFF button.

The unit turns on, with the LCD displaying all the segments

and sweeping the LED bar graph.

Protimeter TimberMaster

Page 5

8.2 Reference Mode of Measurement:

Note: For application information, see Pin (WME)

Mode Operation> on page 1.

In Measure mode, take the rst measurement which
needs to be taken as reference. While the rst reading is

displayed on the screen, press and hold the button for
2 seconds to enter the Reference Mode. The display will
be similar to the one shown on the next page.

To return to the normal measurement mode, press
again.

8.3 Settings:

Press and hold the button and switch on the unit by
pressing . Hold both the buttons until the TimberMas­ter displays the version.

Release both buttons while it shows the version num­ber. The unit enters Settings Mode.

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Protimeter TimberMaster

8.3.1 Backlight Settings:

Once the Buzzer settings are entered, the next setting

turns the Backlight ON or OFF.

To change the settings, press the button.

If the unit detects no key press for 2 seconds in the Set­ting screen, it moves to the next setting.

Pressing the button, after you have entered the
desired setting, will save the setting and move the
screen to the next setting.

Protimeter TimberMaster

Page 7

8.3.2 Auto Off Time Settings:

When Auto Off is set, the unit will shut down automat-

ically at a specied time between 1 and 6 minutes, if

there is no key press detected within the set time.

For example, if the Auto Off time is set as 1, then the

unit will automatically shut down after a minute when
no key is pressed.

The duration will change based on the set time of 1- 6 min­utes.

If the auto off time is set to be “0”, then the unit will not
automatically turn off. A user must manually turn it off by

pressing and holding the button for 5 sec.

Turn off time can be set by pressing the button, and

can be saved by pressing .

After you save this setting, the unit will exit to the measure-

ment screen.

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Protimeter TimberMaster

8.4 Battery Low Indication:

Whenever the battery is low, there will appear a battery

low indication symbol on the screen (bottom right). This

indicates that the battery is low and should be replaced
soon. The unit will continue to perform in battery condi-

tion within the specied accuracy, and turns off when the

battery reaches the limit.

8.5 Holding / Freezing the Reading:

While measuring, if the reading needs to be frozen for any

observation, press during measurement. A text
“HOLD” will be displayed on the screen.

9 Battery Replacement

A 550mAh battery will last continuously for more than 20
hours for a TimberMaster in operation. A Battery Low indi­cation on the screen indicates that the battery needs to be
changed in a short time.

Remove the screw assembled to x the battery lid on the

back side of the unit

Slide the battery lid downwards applying a little pressure
with the thumb to open the battery compartment.

Protimeter TimberMaster

Page 9

Battery Replacement (cont.)

Remove the battery, and replace. Care must be taken
to ensure that the polarity is correct as below. Place the
battery inside the compartment.

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Protimeter TimberMaster

10 Technical Specifications

Operating Conditions:

Operating temperature range: 0°C
to 50°C Humidity: 0 to 90% RH,

non-condensing Measurement
Specifications:

Moisture measurement:

For integrated and remote pin probes:

Strong and reliable integrated pins, with a cap

to protect Pin measurement range (% MC in
wood/%WME) -

7.9 to 99% (readings over 30% are relative)

11 Physical Specifications

Power:

9V- Alkaline 550mAh,

Battery low indication on
LCD

Size:

19cm x 6.5cm x 3.5cm (7.5” x 2.5” x 1.4”)

Gross Weight (without battery)

~228g

Maximum Needle Depth

For WME pins: 0.4” (10mm)

Buzzer

Audible buzzer for key tone and measurement indi-

cation, user congurable

Regulatory Compliance

CE, RoHS, ETL

Protimeter TimberMaster

Page 11

Amphenol

Advanced Sensors

MODEL : BLD5605 / BLD5605-SW

MODEL : BLD5609 / BLD5609-SW

U.S.A.
Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.

967 Windfall Road

St Marys, Pennsylvania
15857 USA

T: [phone]

www.protimeter.com

www.amphenol-sensors.com

U.K.

Amphenol Thermometrics

(U.K.) Limited

Crown Industrial Estate
Priorswood Road
Taunton, TA2 8QY, UK

T: [phone]

Copyright ® 2017 Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Protimeter TimberMaster® is a registered trade­mark of Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.